When a new City Council is elected, City staff prepare briefing material for all Councillors. These briefing binders contain information on the wide range of programs, policies, and issues Councillors need to know about. All of this briefing material is now available online. It is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning about many of the things Council will discuss in this term. You can download the complete Briefing Book (PDF, 6.7 Mb, 514 pages) or view individual notes and sections below.

Section 1 - Toronto's Government

• Governance and Decision-Making
• Diversity, Equity, and Human Rights
• Human Resources
• Key Corporate Initiatives

Section 2 - The City's Finances

Section 3 - Key Strategic Directions and Initiatives

• Economic Competitiveness
• City Building
• Transportation and Transit
• Social Development
• Environmental Sustainability
• Public Realm

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Section 1 - Toronto's Government
Governance and Decision-Making
1.1	Overview of the City Government
1.2	Intergovernmental Relations
1.3	Decision Making of City Council and City Agencies
1.4	Open and Closed Meeting Requirements
1.5	Member Appointments
1.6	City's Agencies and Corporations
1.7	Public Appointments Policy
1.8	The Toronto Public Service
1.9	Internal Control Framework
1.10	Accountability Officers
1.11	Role of the Public in Decision Making
1.12	Ward Boundary Review
Diversity, Equity and Human Rights
1.13	Employment Equity
1.14	Human Rights
1.15	Implementation of Standards Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005
1.16	Urban Aboriginal Framework
1.17	Inclusion of an Equity Analysis using an "equity lens" in staff reports to City Council
1.18	Using Indicators in Corporate Status Reports to Measure Progress on Access, Equity, and Human Rights (AEHR) Achievements
Human Resources
1.19	Strategic Workforce Planning: Employee Eligibility for Retirement 2010 to 2015
1.20	Labour Relations and Collective Bargaining
1.21	City of Toronto: Collective Agreements and Collective Bargaining
1.22	Contracting Out Provisions in Collective Agreements
1.23	Non-Union Management Associations
1.24	Fair Wage Policy: Application and Labour Trade Requirements on City Contracts
Key Corporate Initiatives
1.25	311 Toronto Contact Centre: A Snapshot of Operations and Next Steps to Improve Customer Service
1.26	Open Government
1.27	Performance Measurement and Benchmarking
1.28	Toronto Progress Portal
1.29	Civic Engagement Strategy
Section 2 - The City's Finances
2.1	Financial Overview
2.2	Long Term Fiscal Plan (LTFP)
2.3	Corporate Revenues: Property Tax, Municipal Land Transfer Tax, Personal Vehicle Tax, and Development Charges
2.4	Capital Financing, the Issuance of Debentures and Credit Ratings
2.5	Investments
2.6	City's Reserves and Reserve Funds
2.7	Delegated Authorities: Procurement, Real Estate and Finance
2.8	Status of City Sponsored Pre-OMERS Pension Plans, OMERS Pension Plan and TTC Pension Fund Society
2.9	City of Toronto Benefit Plans
2.10	Enhancing Toronto's Business Climate
2.11	Sole Source / Non-Competitive Procurement
Section 3 - Key Strategic Directions and Initiatives
Economic Competitiveness
3.1	Agenda for Prosperity: A Prospectus for a Great City
3.2	Green Economic Development Strategy: Growing the Green Economy
3.3	Culture Plan Funding Target
3.4	The Development of a City-Wide Partnership Strategy
3.5	Holiday Shopping
3.6	Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)
3.7	Building Activity
3.8	Exhibition Place: Growth Strategies - Trade and Consumer Shows, Meeting and Convention Events and Related Activities
3.9	Exhibition Place: Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) as Largest Fair in Canada
City Building
3.10	Waterfront Revitalization
3.11	2015 Pan / Parapan American Games: Key Agreements, Structures & Commitments
3.12	Athletes' Village: 2015 Pan / Parapan American Games
3.13	Union Station Revitalization
3.14	Neighbourhood Revitalization
3.15	Tower Renewal - Apartment Community Improvement Initiative
3.16	Nathan Phillips Square Revitalization Project
3.17	Fort York Visitor Centre Funding
3.18	Coordination of Major Capital Infrastructure Projects
3.19	John Street Environmental Assessment & Corridor Improvements
3.20	St. Lawrence Market North Redevelopment
3.21	Old City Hall Revitalization
3.22	Toronto Zoo: Capital Investment
3.23	Exhibition Place: Development of the Exhibition Place Site
Transportation and Transit
3.24	Transit City Light Rail Plan
3.25	Metrolinx
3.26	Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension Project
3.27	Walking Strategy
3.28	Cycling Infrastructure and Programs
3.29	Traffic Control Systems
3.30	Winter Maintenance Services
Social Development
Community Development
3.31	Place-based Initiatives and Neighbourhood Action
3.32	Community Service Hubs
3.33	Prevention and Intervention Toronto - Pilot Project
3.34	Community Crisis Response Program
3.35	Toronto Newcomer Initiative
3.36	Community Partnership and Investment Program (CPIP)
3.37	Toronto Public Library: Access to Technology and Online Services
Community Health
3.38	EMS Offload Nurse Program
3.39	Bed Bugs
3.40	ChemTRAC and the Environmental Reporting and Disclosure Bylaw
3.41	Toronto Food Strategy
Affordable Housing
3.42	Implementation of Housing Opportunities Toronto (HOT), the City's 10-year affordable housing action plan 2010-2020
3.43	Creating new affordable rental and ownership homes over 10 years
Homelessness, Social Housing and Supports
3.44	Upload of Social Housing Costs to the Province
3.45	Social Housing Waiting List and Housing Access Review
3.46	Shelter Per Diem Rates & Funding Model
3.47	Expiring Housing Allowance Programs
3.48	Multi-Residential Electrical Sub-Metering
Early Learning
3.49	Implementation of Early Learning Program
Long-Term Care
3.50	Proclamation of New Long-Term Care Homes Act
3.51	Kipling Acres Redevelopment
Social and Employment Services
3.52	Advancing Workforce Development in Toronto
3.53	Human Services Implementation Steering Committee
3.54	Ontario Works Financial Assistance Caseload Levels
3.55	Replacement of the Ontario Works Special Diet Benefit
Recreation
3.56	Recreation Service Plan
3.57	Parks Plan
3.58	Allocation of Ice at City-owned Arenas Operated by Arena Boards of Management
3.59	2012 Ontario Summer Games
Environmental Sustainability
Climate Change and Sustainable Energy
3.60	Climate Change Action Plan
3.61	Ahead of the Storm: Toronto's Adaptation Strategy
3.62	The Power to Live Green: Toronto's Sustainable Energy Strategy
Environmental Leadership
3.63	Green Building Initiatives
3.64	Green Fleet Plan
3.65	Deep Lake Water Cooling Project
3.66	Toronto and Region Conservation Authority: Community Transformation
3.67	Toronto and Region Conservation Authority: Flood Management Services
Water Quality and Efficiency
3.68	Basement Flooding Protection Program
3.69	Lead in Drinking Water Mitigation Program
3.70	Lake Ontario and Waterfront Water Quality
3.71	Water Meter Program
3.72	Toronto York Water Supply Agreement
3.73	Expansion of the F.J. Horgan Water Treatment Plant
3.74	Water Efficiency Plan Update: 2011 to 2025
3.75	Recent and Emerging Water and Wastewater Provincial Regulations
Solid Waste
3.76	70% Diversion Rate
3.77	Waste Diversion Act
3.78	Biosolids Management
3.79	Green Bin Organics Composting
Public Realm
3.80	The New Zoning Bylaw
3.81	Toronto Sign By-law and Third Party Sign Tax
3.82	Development Review
3.83	Streetscape Standards
3.84	Neighbourhood Beautification Program
3.85	Coordinated Street Furniture Program
3.86	Street Closures: Special Events and Construction Activities